That was well before I began writing about email myself. Newsletters weren’t just a way to stay informed; they were how I learned, how I got inspired, and how I kept pace with an industry that never stops evolving.
Fast forward to today: My inbox is still full of newsletters, but now I’m a little choosier. Some are noise, but others remain invaluable, delivering sharp insights, practical tactics, or cultural context I can’t get anywhere else.
I’ve gone through my inbox to highlight the ones I find most useful right now, across three categories that matter most to marketers today: HubSpot’s editorial newsletters, email marketing newsletters, and creator/content-focused newsletters.
Table of Contents
HubSpot Newsletters
1. The Hustle
Let’s be honest: Some business newsletters read like a term paper with an MBA watermark. The Hustle is not that.
Born as a scrappy startup media brand and now backed by HubSpot, it blends bite-sized business news with just enough snark to make you feel like you’re in the loop and in the know, without needing a second cup of coffee to get through it.
The top of a recent issue:
Each issue drops into your inbox weekday mornings with a blend of trending business headlines, startup stories, tech tidbits, and, occasionally, headlines about the weird (yet surprisingly profitable) corners of capitalism like:
- Care to rent some pants? Turns out renting your wardrobe is a whole business model now. In 2024, Pickle users made up to $3K/month renting out their clothes, with same-day delivery in some cities. Closet envy is not a monetizable asset.
- Lab31 released 31 AI Projects in 31 Days – Here’s how. Two creatives set out to launch a new AI tool every day for a month, from a bot that delivers unsolicited life stats to one that generates fake startup ideas. It’s weird. It’s brilliant. It’s so very Hustle.
- Weirdo companies getting up to weirdo things in 2024. 2024 gave us delivery drones that gently tether your package to earth, plus a startup that wants to mine rare metals … in space. The future is here. It just looks like science fiction with better branding.
What sets it apart? Voice.
Think of your smart, sarcastic friend who reads The Economist and listens to business podcasts on 2x speed, but still texts you memes. The tone is sharp but accessible. Whether you‘re a founder, marketer, or just business-curious, you’ll find takeaways worth sharing and links worth clicking.
Here’s why The Hustle works:
- Quick-read format. You can skim it in under five minutes and still sound informed in your next Zoom meeting.
- Smart curation. They don’t just tell you what’s happening, they connect the dots on why it matters.
- Distinct POV. It’s not afraid to side-eye the hype, even when it's coming from a VC-funded unicorn.
It’s also a masterclass in newsletter growth, having gone from zero to millions of subscribers, all fueled by referral programs, segmented sends, and an unapologetically strong brand voice. (If you’re studying email strategy? Sign up just to see how they do it.)
Bottom line: The Hustle makes business news feel more like a group chat than a shareholder report. If you like your economics with a side of eye-roll (in a good way), it’s worth a spot in your morning scroll.
Subscribe to The Hustle from HubSpot
2. Masters in Marketing
You know those marketing interviews where everyone sounds like they’re auditioning for a TED Talk? Masters in Marketing is the opposite of that. Produced by HubSpot but far from buttoned-up, this weekly newsletter serves up behind-the-scenes stories from the people actually doing the work — building brands, testing campaigns, and learning the hard way.
A recent issue:
Each issue features a deep-dive interview with a seasoned marketer, often from brands like the NBA, Liquid Death, Oatly, and Microsoft. These aren’t just highlight reels; they’re postmortems, pivots, and sometimes hilariously honest “we really thought this would work” moments.
And in between the big lessons, there’s plenty of “you might want to steal this” detail, like:
- It’s like marketing, but made for humans: Lessons from Oatly’s EVP. A look at how Oatly embraced creative risk, pivoted to emotional connection over clicks, and even turned lawsuits into marketing collateral, on purpose.
- How Liquid Death wins at anti‑marketing. A raw, funny, and insightful interview with Greg Fass, Liquid Death’s VP of Marketing, where marketing meets late-night sketches, and “people aren’t brainless consumers” becomes a guiding philosophy.
- 12 sharpest lessons from marketing leaders. A curated collection of hard-earned marketing truths from brands like Liquid Death, Oatly, Spotify, and the Brooklyn Nets; prototype wisdom for your inbox.
What sets it apart? Candor.
These are in-the-weeds conversations with marketers who’ve made real decisions, faced real constraints, and still managed to create campaigns people talk about. You won’t find buzzwords or sweeping generalities here, just lessons learned, tools shared, and the occasional “don’t do what we did.”
Here’s why Masters in Marketing works:
- Practical interviews. You get full conversations, not soundbites. The takeaways are deeper and more usable.
- Story-first structure. Each issue reads like a conversation, not a case study. You’re pulled in, not talked at.
- Resources included. They don’t just tell you what someone did, they link to the templates, tools, and frameworks so you can try it yourself.
And because it’s from HubSpot, the content is built with working marketers in mind, especially those on small or scrappy teams who need smart, scalable ideas (not $2M media buys).
Bottom line: Masters in Marketing is like a working lunch with your smartest marketing friend; no jargon, no fluff, just sharp insights and honest stories you’ll actually remember (and reuse). If you’ve ever said “I just want to know how they really did that,” this one’s for you.
Subscribe to Masters in Marketing from HubSpot
Email Marketing Newsletters
3. Email Optimization Shop by Jeanne Jennings
You know how most email newsletters about email feel like they were written by someone who’s never actually optimized an email? This one (mine) isn’t that.
The Email Optimization Shop newsletter is where I share the tests I’m running, the strategies I’m teaching, and the results I’m seeing. The content comes straight from real client campaigns and the lab of my own inbox. It’s part case study, part workshop recap, part coach-on-your-shoulder. I show my math, my flops, and yes, the wins too.
A recent issue:
Each issue lands with practical insights you can use right away, like:
- Preheader text that isn’t afraid to carry its weight. I shared how preheader text lifted revenue by 95.6% in a client campaign; and showed the actual subject lines and preheader test, the test design, and why it worked.
- Why welcome emails still rock. Your first impression really is everything. I break down what makes a welcome message convert, plus offer a framework to help your team create or refine yours.
- Getting your team started with AI, without the overwhelm. I walk through three small, specific ways to begin using AI to support (not replace) your email workflow, because “start using AI” is not a strategy.
What sets it apart? I don’t just talk about what worked. I will share how we got there. The ideas, the iterations, the outtakes. The numbers, of course. And I always try to deliver something useful enough that you bookmark it, or forward it to your team.
Here’s why The Email Optimization Shop works:
- I’m not just writing about email, I’m doing the work. Every story comes from the real world: clients, classrooms, campaign data, and sometimes my own missteps.
- It’s strategic and tactical. I want you to walk away with a new lens and a new test to try.
- It sounds like me. Conversational. Occasionally cheeky. Always honest. (And CAN-SPAM compliant.)
It’s also the best example of what I teach: clear copy, smart segmentation, clean design, and a voice that respects the reader’s time and intelligence.
Bottom line: The Email Optimization Shop is where I share what I’m learning, testing, and teaching, because email works best when we’re all a little more open about what’s really happening behind the send button. If you’re running campaigns and want to improve your results, I hope you’ll subscribe, open, read, and learn.
Subscribe to Email Optimization Shop by Jeanne Jennings
4. MarTech Daily
Let’s face it. Most marketing newsletters feel like clippings from your RSS feed with extra whitespace. MarTech Daily is not that. It’s built for marketers at the intersection of creativity and code, delivering news, analysis, and strategy, without the fluff, every weekday.
A recent issue:
Each issue drops into your inbox with trending headlines, tool launches, expert tutorials, and the occasional deep dive into what marketing looks like when it’s powered by tech (think AI, CDPs, and composable stacks).
Here’s the kind of stuff you’ll find inside:
- Martech Landscape 2025: Growing, shrinking and reshaping all at once. A snapshot of the state of play this year: 2,489 new tools emerged, 1,211 went extinct — and product management systems quietly nearly doubled their footprint. It’s the churning ecosystem, all laid bare.
- The future of the martech stack and marketing operations is ‘unstructured.’ AI is flooding us with unstructured data, from emails to visuals, and now your stack better be ready to tame it. Spoiler: “Treat it with the same care” isn’t cutting it anymore.
- AI can’t create meaning; that’s still marketing’s job. Some marketers chase strategy, others chase shiny tools. AI can scale content, but connecting with audiences? That’s still all you. This piece cuts through the noise to re-center marketing’s strategic thinking.
What sets it apart? Authority with accessibility.
Think of your smart tech-savvy friend who also happens to read the financial news, but explains it over coffee. The tone is polished, the insights are deep, and it’s never more than a 5-minute skim away.
Here’s why MarTech Daily works:
- Quick daily pulse checks. Stay up on AI, integrations, analytics, governance, all without getting behind.
- Expert curation. Drawn from experienced editors, analysts, and practitioners, not just keyword headlines.
- Actionable content. Reports, buyer's guides, product demos, webinars, all linked, organized, and ready to explore.
Whether you're a martech buyer, a strategy lead, or managing the next digital transformation, MarTech Daily is like having a personal briefing on the future of your toolbox.
Bottom line: MarTech Daily turns the marketing-tech chaos into clarity. If staying ahead in tools, trends, and tech is part of your job, this is one daily dose you’ll actually look forward to.
5. Only Influencers
Most email newsletters about email are either too basic (hello, “remember to personalize your subject lines”) or too jargon-heavy (cue the whitepapers that nobody finishes). The Only Influencers newsletter lands right in the sweet spot: written by email pros, for email pros, with equal parts strategy, analysis, and let’s-be-real perspective.
Founded in 2010, Only Influencers is the original community of email industry professionals, sharing knowledge, sparking debate, and providing networking that benefits not just its members but the entire email ecosystem.
Each week, it curates the best from the Only Influencers blog, contributions from industry members, and carefully chosen outside reads that are shaping the future of email marketing. You get smart commentary, tactical how-tos, and, because it’s email, the occasional spicy debate about best practices.
A recent issue:
Here are a few recent highlights:
- The AI clutter apocalypse. What happens when inboxes get flooded with machine-generated everything? OI member and blog contributor Egan Montgomery explored the risks, realities, and how marketers can rise above the noise with quality over quantity.
- An email newsletter can be (almost) anything. From thought-leadership roundups to cat memes, OI member and blog contributor Chad S. White makes the case that flexibility is the format’s superpower; your newsletter can be whatever delivers value to your audience.
- When your A/B test isn’t telling the truth. Just because you ran a split test doesn’t mean the results are reliable. Here, I (as the general manager of OI and a blog contributor) break down four reasons your A/B tests may not be statistically significant, and exactly how to fix them before you make the wrong call.
What sets it apart? Perspective.
OI has been around for years as a trusted hub of the email marketing community (I was a member and fan long before I stepped up to become the general manager), and the newsletter reflects that. It’s not just one person’s opinion, it’s a collection of insights from across the industry. You feel plugged into the bigger conversation every week.
Here’s why Only Influencers works:
- Community-driven. OI Members share experiments, results, and opinions, so you’re learning from peers, not just pundits.
- Broad but curated. From AI debates to design hacks, each issue filters the firehose into what’s genuinely useful.
- Conversation-starter. It’s not just a newsletter you read, it’s one you want to talk about, argue about, and build on.
Bottom line: Only Influencers is the email marketer’s email newsletter: a curated, credible, and consistently insightful read. If email is even half your job description, this is one worth opening.
6. Oracle Digital Experience (ODX) Newsletter
Some newsletters skim the surface of marketing trends. The Oracle Digital Experience (ODX) newsletter dives straight into the deep end, covering customer data, personalization, AI, and the technology underpinning modern marketing, all with the weight of Oracle’s expertise behind it.
Each issue curates insights from Oracle’s blog, original research, and thought leadership on digital marketing and transformation, delivering a mix of future-looking strategy and practical applications for marketers running enterprise-scale programs. You’ll see coverage that spans marketing automation, data privacy, AI-driven personalization, and the customer experience stack that ties it all together.
A recent issue:
Here are a few recent articles:
- Welcome emails that actually make an impression. That first message sets the tone for the entire customer relationship. Oracle breaks down best practices to ensure your welcome email does more than say “hi.” It needs to build trust and drive action.
- Surviving the AI takeover of search. With generative AI reshaping how people find information, Chad S. White lays out five moves every brand must make now to keep visibility and customer trust intact.
- Using AI copy tools without losing your voice. Subject line generators and AI copywriting apps are everywhere, but how do you make them work for you, not against you? This piece offers practical ways to leverage AI while keeping your brand voice intact.
What sets it apart? Authority.
While many newsletters speculate on “what’s next,” ODX brings heavyweight credibility and data-backed insights from one of the most established players in martech. The tone is polished, practical, and ideal for marketers and leaders navigating complex CX challenges.
Here’s why ODX works:
- Enterprise-level expertise, distilled. Strategy meets execution with no fluff.
- Future focus. AI, automation, and data privacy aren’t buzzwords here; they’re tied to real-world impact.
- Credible sources. Articles are backed by research and practitioner insights from Oracle and its partners.
Bottom line: The Oracle Digital Experience newsletter is your go-to for staying fluent in modern email strategy, AI’s growing role in marketing, and the data-driven tactics shaping customer experience. If you’re steering marketing at scale, this one deserves a spot in your inbox.
Subscribe to the ODX newsletter
7. Really Good Emails
Plenty of newsletters talk about email. Really Good Emails shows you. Literally. Each issue is packed with real-life email examples of what worked, what didn’t, and how you can steal the best ideas without the worst mistakes.
Built on their massive archive of over 10,000 curated email designs, the newsletter feels like a design lab crossed with a marketing playbook. It’s equal parts inspiration, critique, and hands-on advice. Always with a wink, never with condescension.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are a few recent articles:
- Inbox design tips that actually work. From layout to hierarchy to accessibility, Really Good Emails breaks down what makes an email not just look good but perform in the inbox.
- BFCM promotion ideas worth stealing. Shopify shares creative approaches to Black Friday/Cyber Monday campaigns that go beyond discounts, along with commentary on how to adapt them for your own sends.
- AI-powered personalization in action. TechRadar explores how to use AI to tailor experiences at scale, with implications for email design and strategy.
What sets it apart? Context.
Instead of just pointing you at interesting examples, Really Good Emails tells you why they matter and how to think about applying the insights to your own programs. The commentary is sharp, approachable, and written with just enough personality to keep you reading.
Here’s why Really Good Emails works:
- Design + strategy. You get both creative inspiration and tactical takeaways.
- Constant inspiration. Articles and resources are real, current, and practical.
- A tone that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Because sometimes the best way to learn is by laughing at a bad footer or cringing at a subject line.
Bottom line: Really Good Emails is like sitting in on an industry workshop that doesn’t waste your time. If you’re responsible for creating, critiquing, or improving emails, this newsletter is one worth opening every time.
Subscribe to the Really Good Emails Newsletter
8. Send It Right
Some newsletters teach email deliverability like it’s a dark art. Send It Right turns on the lights. Written by 18-year email veteran Lauren Meyer, it’s a weekly(-ish) briefing for marketers who want to reach the inboxes (and hearts) of their subscribers, minus the myths and hand-waving.
Each issue breaks down tricky topics (open rates, authentication, reputation, outages) with plain-English explanations, cheeky analogies, and step-by-step fixes you can actually implement.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are a few recent features:
- Your open rates are wrong (and what to track instead). Why opens were never that accurate, what Apple MPP did to the metric, and how to re-orient your reporting around signals that actually reflect inbox placement and subscriber value.
- The power of permission. If subscribers didn’t ask for it, they won’t engage with it. Permission is the keystone of deliverability. This piece lays out how opt-in quality drives inboxing (and how to fix shaky sources).
- How to diagnose & fix deliverability issues — fast. A practical playbook for spotting red flags, isolating root causes, and getting back to the inbox, all before leadership blames the subject line.
What sets it apart? Candor + clarity.
Lauren separates delivery from deliverability, explains why mailbox providers don’t tell you where mail landed, and shows how to use reputation signals and authentication the right way, without the voodoo.
Here’s why Send It Right works:
- Operator’s perspective. Advice from someone who’s shipped, troubleshot, and taught deliverability for years, not theory.
- Actionable to the bone. Checklists, “what changed this week?” prompts, and next steps you can paste into a Slack thread today.
- Myth-busting tone. Gentle snark, plain language, and zero tolerance for misleading “deliverability rate” dashboards.
Bottom line: Send It Right is the deliverability decoder ring marketers actually need; clear, practical, and immediately usable. If the inbox is mission-critical for your program, this is one to open every time.
Subscribe to the Send It Right Newsletter
Content Creator Newsletters
9. Chief Content Officer (CCO) Monthly
If most marketing newsletters feel like a highlight reel, Chief Content Officer Monthly is your strategic deep dive. It’s delivered with Content Marketing Institute’s (CMI) editorial pedigree and designed specifically for content leaders. It’s more than advice; it’s a curated briefing on content strategy, team leadership, and the operational future of storytelling.
Each issue distills insights from CMI, complete with expert commentary, how-to frameworks, and media-worthy essays, all aimed at helping you manage creative teams, operationalize strategy, and stay human amidst AI and complexity.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are three standout recent features that capture what CCO delivers:
- What every content leader needs to know about agentic AI today. A clear-eyed, tactical write-up that demystifies “set-it-and-forget-it” AI claims and offers realistic ways to prepare your content operation for autonomous tools without losing creative control.
- Broken tech relationships: How to trade up, break up, and glow up. A no-fluff guide to knowing when relationships with vendors, and the platforms they support, need an upgrade. Practical steps to pivot your tech stack when the romance fades.
- ABX: Take Account-Based Marketing back to a better future. A fresh take on ABM (or ABX) strategy that pulls it out of the realm of buzzwords and into a modern, multi-account orchestration playbook built for real demand-gen results.
What sets it apart? Curation meets authority.
CCO Monthly isn’t just another email of headlines. It’s a mission-aligned monthly briefing created for content professionals who need ideas that scale across teams, systems, and strategy.
Here’s why CCO Monthly works:
- Executive-grade relevance. This isn’t surface-level fluff. It’s real-world strategy tailored for leaders running content teams.
- Future-forward without hype. AI and tech aren’t trend pieces, they’re operational imperatives with cautions and frameworks.
- Credibility baked in. Articles are written and vetted by CMI subject-matter experts and practitioners.
Bottom line: Chief Content Officer Monthly equips content professionals with the vision, frameworks, and tools they need to steer both creative teams and operational systems with confidence. If you're piloting content strategy at scale, consider this your monthly strategist’s huddle in your inbox.
Subscribe to the Chief Content Officer newsletter
10. Creator Weekly
Some newsletters chase shiny platform updates. Creator Weekly cuts through the noise with reporting and analysis on what’s actually happening in the creator world. Things like platform shifts, brand moves, and the new rules for making money online. Published on Substack by Click2View, it’s a once-a-week snapshot for anyone navigating the blurry line between content, influence, and business.
Each issue distills industry news, platform updates, and cultural commentary into a read that feels like a briefing you can actually use, not just a list of headlines. It’s written for marketers, brand builders, and creators themselves who want a clear-eyed view of how the ecosystem is evolving.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are a few recent editions that capture its range:
- Influencers go in-house. Why more brands are bringing creators directly into marketing teams and what it means for agencies, freelancers, and the influencer economy at large.
- YouTube’s reality check. The platform is leaning harder into “real” content over manufactured hype. Creator Weekly unpacks what that shift means for authenticity, monetization, and algorithmic favor.
- The rise of creator-generated content. Beyond UGC, brands are turning to creators not just for content but for strategy. This issue dives into why creator-generated content is becoming the new cornerstone of marketing.
What sets it apart? Focus.
Instead of treating creators as an afterthought to broader marketing coverage, Creator Weekly makes them the center of the story, whether that’s how platforms treat them, how brands use them, or how they’re building businesses of their own.
Here’s why Creator Weekly works:
- Timely and topical. Published weekly, so you’re never behind on fast-moving platform updates.
- Context-rich. Not just “what happened,” but “why it matters” for creators and marketers.
- Cross-audience relevance. Whether you’re a brand, agency, or creator, the lens is clear: creators are shaping the future of marketing.
Bottom line: Creator Weekly is the inbox briefing for anyone working with, for, or as a creator. If you want one newsletter that connects cultural shifts with marketing impact, this is it.
Subscribe to the Creator Weekly newsletter
11. Passionfruit
Founded by creators, for creators, Passionfruit is a twice-weekly newsletter that fills the space where creator culture and real conversations meet; from what’s happening in the ecosystem to the strategies that actually help you make art for a living. If you're building something on the internet and wondering how others are surviving (or thriving), welcome to your support squad.
Every issue digs into the stories, platforms, and personalities shaping the creator world, without the corporate pep talk. Think of it as smart reporting braided with empathy, sprinkled with cultural curiosity, and always holding platforms accountable.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are a few recent features:
- Trump signs TikTok ban into law, who will buy it? Breaking down what the U.S. TikTok ban means for creators, platforms, and the scramble of companies vying to buy the app before it disappears from American devices.
- MrBeast quietly removed his thumbnail generator. Why YouTube’s biggest creator scrapped a much-hyped tool, what it reveals about platform pressures, and what creators can learn from his pivot.
- Inside Creator Camp. A behind-the-scenes look at how creators are turning summer camps into incubators for collaboration, networking, and monetization; proof that the creator ecosystem is finding new ways to build community offline.
What sets it apart? Perspective.
Passionfruit doesn’t report on the creator ecosystem from the outside in. It’s the newsroom for the creators themselves. You’ll get stories with teeth: platform first-hand reporting, creator strategy, cultural context, and yes, the weirdness. All delivered with respect, clarity, and a bit of edge.
Here’s why Passionfruit works:
- Creator-first focus. This is journalism written to creators, not about them.
- Narrative + nuance. Deep dives never feel fluffed up. They land with insight and care.
- Cultural relevance. From TikTok bans to MrBeast pivots, it connects culture, business, and identity.
Bottom line: Passionfruit is the editorial clinic for creators with real talk, thoughtful strategy, and unapologetic empathy. If your ambition lives on platforms and your hustle requires context, this is your next inbox essential.
Subscribe to the Passionfruit newsletter
12. The Publish Press
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, The Publish Press lands in your inbox from creators Colin and Samir, bringing you the business of creators with the kind of raw curiosity and insight you'd hope for from the duo behind one of YouTube’s most thoughtful storytelling channels.
Here’s a recent issue:
Here are a few recent articles that capture what they do best:
- Your favorite TikToker’s favorite TikToker. The rising star you’ve probably never heard of, until you realize every creator you do follow is already watching them. Publish Press unpacks how underground momentum turns into mainstream dominance.
- This creator just scored the World Cup. A creator’s leap from YouTube to the world’s biggest sporting stage shows just how far creator-driven storytelling has expanded—and why brands (and leagues) are betting big on it.
- Thank God It’s (Almost) Friday. A lighter look at creator news and trends heading into the weekend; part recap, part cultural vibe check, and a reminder that creator economy coverage doesn’t have to feel like homework.
What sets it apart? Insider insights.
The Publish Press blends insider access with approachable commentary, giving readers the creator economy’s big moments and subtle shifts, always with context that makes it actionable.
Here’s why The Publish Press works:
- Creator-first perspective. Insights come from people who live the business, not just report on it.
- Timely and frequent. Three drops a week means you’re never out of the loop.
- Sharp but accessible. It’s business news that doesn’t read like business news, more like a conversation with the smartest person in the room.
Bottom line: The Publish Press is the creator economy’s morning paper, delivered by creators, for creators, with three fresh takes every week. If you want the inside track on where creator culture is headed, this is the one to open.
Subscribe to the Publish Press newsletter
Use newsletters to become a better digital marketer.
Newsletters may have evolved since the days when I was printing and filing them in three-ring binders, but the role they play hasn’t changed much. They’re still lifelines — condensed doses of strategy, inspiration, and perspective that land right where we live and work: the inbox.
The ones I’ve shared here are my go-tos: smart, useful, and worth the open. Whether you’re looking for HubSpot’s big-picture strategy, the tactical depth of email-first newsletters, or creator-driven cultural context, there’s something here to keep you informed, inspired, and maybe even a step ahead.
So make room in your inbox for a few of these. Open them, read them, save them. And yes, if you’re like me, maybe even print out the best ones. Some habits are worth keeping.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in July 2024 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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